Growing thyme in container space12/28/2023 ![]() ![]() In very large containers, use solid pieces of Styrofoam to fill no more than one-third of the total volume of the container. You can also purchase potting mixes, but avoid heavier “potting soils,” which may not drain well.įill containers with mix and wet the dry potting mix with warm water before adding plants. Lighter mixes will drain better, have better root development, and will give you a lighter total container if you want to move it. Mixing equal parts (by volume) of peat moss and perlite makes a great potting mix for most plants. It is best to use a potting mix, one you purchase or make, rather than field soil in any container. Hanging baskets with coir (coconut fiber) sides may require watering two or three times per day during warmer months. If you don’t want to water that often, select a larger volume container and one with solid side walls. The size of the container will limit how much potting mix you can fill the container with. Smaller volume containers, and especially smaller containers with natural material side walls, will dry out much faster than larger containers with solid side walls. Tomatoes (shown here), peppers and eggplant all can be grown in a larger container. ![]() This container of mixed herbs makes a great hanging basket. Take the material into account as you determine container size and the number of plants you can easily grow in the container. Terra cotta is an exception to this as some moisture is lost through the unglazed clay container. Solid wall containers will generally hold more moisture longer than containers with natural materials as their sides. Hanging basket containers may not have solid sides, but have coconut coir or other natural material sides. Real clay and terracotta containers are heavy and more difficult to move. Concrete, iron and other materials may not be moved much, if at all. Resin containers look like clay or terracotta, but are also lightweight and easily moved. Plastic containers are lighter in weight and can be more easily moved from one spot to another, if you like to move containers as you might move your furniture. One large hole does not permit as much drainage as numerous small holes. A good container has numerous small holes, ideally quarter-inch holes every two to three inches of container bottom. Anything, in theory, can be a container from boots to wagons to tires. The most important part of container selection is to find a container that has sufficient drainage holes in the bottom. Without enough sun, there won’t be much production. Shade from overhangs, buildings or furniture will decrease the total number of hours the container receives sunlight, so take that into consideration. Vegetables and herbs need to be placed in a location with at least six hours of sunlight each day. A few minutes of planning and preparation will improve your success and enjoyment of any container garden. What if you don’t have much space or no yard? You can have some vegetables and herbs growing on a sunny patio, porch, or deck in containers. It tastes even better when you pick it in your own garden. ![]()
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